Glue Brushes

[PAC1]

I need to buy new glue brushes (well maybe). For years I had what must be hand made bristle brushes. I have also used plastic spreader type. When I was an apprentice we just used a spare wedge or scrap of wood that was available. The choice now seems to be either buy disposable brushes dirt cheap on the internet or seek out very expensive hand made brushes or go back to using a scrap of wood. What do you use and why?

 

[Grahamshed]

I use scraps of 6mm ply cut into lollystick sized pieces. Cafe teaspoon sticks are also quite good.
Using a non disposable brush would drive me nuts with the cleaning.

 

[Peter Sefton]

We use our off cuts cut in to strips about 200x18x4mm and chisel down the ends to fit the joints in question.
Peter

 

[carlb40]

I got flux brushes from ebay last year. Postage was free on them and the seller sold them in various quantities. I think i paid a few quid for 20. However if i can was them out i do

At the time most places were too expensive for the same thing, i think Axi wanted £6+ for half the amount.

 

[marcros]

i use the glue brush from here http://www.frenchpolishes.com/acatalog/Brushes.html for hide glue- cant recall if it was the large or small one.

Or scraps for pva.. I did try a silicone pastry brush thing, but it wasn't stiff enough. to be honest, a gloved finger is as good as anything for spreading, then just take it off when done.

 

[Peter Sefton]

i use the glue brush from here http://www.frenchpolishes.com/acatalog/Brushes.html for hide glue- cant recall if it was the large or small one.

Or scraps for pva.. I did try a silicone pastry brush thing, but it wasn't stiff enough. to be honest, a gloved finger is as good as anything for spreading, then just take it off when done.

We do use the same old wired brushes for Pearl glue.
Peter

 

[Berncarpenter]

I use the cheap throw away brushes from Axi . I dont clean them just leave them submerged in the glue pot which is usually a washed out plastic pot. They last for months in pva which i buy in five litre tubs . For poly glue i just use any odd scraps of wood.

Cheers Bern.

 

[Jacob]

I use steel palette knives. Just one fairly large one most of the time but smaller ones when needed. They are easy to clean even when the glue has set.

 

[Glynne]

I use "artists" paint brushes from Poundland, 99p Shop etc.

 

[MMUK]

Am I the only one that puts my glue in a squeezy bottle with a nozzle on?

 

[marcros]

no, i do that too. A gluebot in fact. http://www.toolovation.co.uk/product_p/gb.gluebot.htm

 

[Grahamshed]

So you squeeze a bead of glue along the joint line or whatever. You still need to spread it out don't you ?

 

[KevM]

Squeezy bottle, followed by:
- Silicone glue brush that I picked up in the US - very easy to clean for water based glues
- Tongue Depressors (large ice-lolly sticks) - where I know clean up isn't worth it/possible

You can get 500 tongue depressors for a tenner delivered from your on-line merchant of choice, or just grab a few when you're next having the full back, sack and crack wax - they're used in beauty parlours for applying hair removal wax, errm, apparently...

I'm actually considering buying a shipping container of tongue depressors from China and knocking them out in packs of ten for a quid as a specialist accessory - if Rutlands can do it why shouldn't I?

 

[MMUK]

So you squeeze a bead of glue along the joint line or whatever. You still need to spread it out don't you ?

For that I use a piece of cardboard like the backing from a pad of paper

 

[SteveF]

I use fibreglass rods

melt the end

cut it off and start again

 

[JJ1]

At my local market/car boot sale one of the sellers has a selection of new, small artists brushes from very cheap to more expensive. I bought five brushes, roughly 1cm wide, at 10 pence each. Despite using one of them dozens of times, with Titebond, Cascamite and contact adhesive it's still going strong. As soon as I've used it I put a quick dab of fairy liquid on the bristles, rub it in with my fingers and give it a quick rinse with warm water and it's as good as new and ready for next time.

 

[DTR]

1) cheap 1/2" decorator's brush
2) folded bit of paper
3) standard size human finger

 

[KevM]

standard size human finger

It's good to see you've gone digital but where do you buy your fingers? Is this even legal?

 

[Grahamshed]

standard size human finger

It's good to see you've gone digital but where do you buy your fingers? Is this even legal?

Good question. Judging from his avatar it is obviously not his own finger he is using, to hairy.

 

[Peter Sefton]

standard size human finger

It's good to see you've gone digital but where do you buy your fingers? Is this even legal?

Good question. Judging from his avatar it is obviously not his own finger he is using, to hairy.

He is a brave man if he's using that finger